Material transporting device



April 1, 1969 DOHERTY ET AL 3,436,125

MATERIAL TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1968 INVENTOR. Roger B. Dofierlg. James N. Moon.

United States Patent 3,436,125 MATERIAL TRANSPORTING DEVICE Roger B. Doherty and James N. Moon, both of Box 790, Franklin, Pa. 16323 Filed Jan. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 697,086 Int. Cl. B65g 53/24 U.S. Cl. 30258 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A transporting device for granular or pulverant material having means for improving the flow of material therethrough.

While the structure of this invention is for use With bins, silos and hoppers their specific construction are so variable the structure is described with relation to hopper cars, such as railway hopper cars, for hauling granular or pulverant material. Such hopper cars generally include downwardly sloping discharge bottom portions with aligned outwardly extending tubular nozzles which nozzles are normally closed by removable closures or caps. The structure of this invention is inserted through one of such nozzles, after the cap has been removed, and as such hoppers, bottom portions, nozzles and caps are well known in the art description thereof is not necessary in understanding this invention. US. Patent 3,136,584 illustrates a known structure with which the structure of this invention cooperates.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a transporting device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention with portions thereof being shown in section to more clearly illustrate the structure thereof,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an end of the outer tube as shown in FIG. 1 with portions thereof shown in section, and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outer tube taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings the illustrated transporting device comprises an adaptor 2 which is removably rigidly secured to the outer free end of a nozzle 4, from which the closure cap has been removed, which nozzle 4 extends outwardly from an outer wall 6 on a discharge portion of a hopper. In the form shown, adaptor 2 comprises a pair of ofiset cylindrical portions of which the inner portion 8 is provided with a circular open sided bore 10 to closely slidably receive the outer end portion of the nozzle 4 therein. Adaptor 2 is removably rigidly secured to the outer end portion of the nozzle 4 in any suitable manner such as by a thumb or set screw 12 threadedly carried by the inner portion 8 with the inner end thereof engaging the outer surface of the nozzle 4 and with the outer end being externally accessible for manipulation. The outer end of the nozzle 4 normally abuts the integral shoulder at the bottom of the bore 10; however, such abutting engagement is not required.

An outer cylindrical portion 14 is of reduced diameter compared to the inner portion 8 with the center thereof being on a diameter and offset from the center of the inner portion 8. Cylindrical portion 14 has a bore 16 extending longitudinally therethrough into and intermediate of the bore 10 and which bore 16 is of a size and configuration to closely receive an outer tube 18. The tube 18 is suitably adjustably rigidly secured within the bore 16 in any suitable manner such as a set screw 20 carried by the portion 14 similar to screw 12 with the inner end of the screw 20 being engageable with the outer surface of tube 18.

Outer tube 18 comprises a tubular body 22 having a vent line 24 extending from the inner end of the body 22 to substantially the outer end thereof and upwardly from the body 22. The inner end of the body 22 and line 24 are suitably sealed such as by an end cap 23. The vent line 24 can be of any suitable cross section to provide suflicient quantity of entering air, as hereinafter described, and as shown is arcuate in form with the ends 25 thereof extending along parallel axis on the outer surface of the body 22 and with such ends being rigidly secured to the body 22 in any suitable manner to provide an air seal therebetween. The body 22 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending openings 28 from adjacent the inner end of the body 22, each of which openings 28 is of a uniform lateral width of substantially one quarter of the outer arcuate surface of the body 22, that is, they extend laterally through an arc of ninety degrees with the upper edge 13 and the lower edge 15 thereof extending axially of body 22. It will be appreciated that the length of openings 28 may vary with various sizes of bodies 22; however, with bodies 22 being from 1% inches to 3% inches in outside diameter a length substantially 8 inches is satisfactory for the purposes of this invention. The height of the vent line 24 upwardly from the body 22 (shown as A in FIG. 3) varies dependent upon the size of the body 22 and by forming the vent line 24 from tubing a height of inch to inch is satisfactory for bodies 22 formed from tubing ranging from 1% inches to 3% inches in inside diameter with tubing of normal commercial wall thickness. It is to be realized that the dimensions stated herein are illustrative of a size range of particular devices of this invention; however, the diameter of the body 22 and the height of the vent line 24 will differ therefrom for larger or smaller capacity devices of this invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the body 22 is provided with a slot 30 which extends axially from the inner end of the body 22 and through the region and openings 28 extend. Slot 311 permits incoming air to flow from the vent pipe 24 into the body 22 and is located arcuately intermediate the ends 25 of line 24, and arcuately intermediate the upper adjacent edges of the openings 28.

The outer end of the tube 18 is received within a formed filter assembly 32 oftcircular cross section having a central portion 33 with a through bore consisting of a rearward bore portion 34 for slidably receiving the outer end of the body 24 and a forward bore portion 35 smaller in diameter than the bore portion 34 for slidably receiving an inner tube 36. Assembly 32 has an incoming air receiving pocket 38 circumferentially surrounding the center portion 33 outwardly of the inner portion 34. The outer end of the pocket 38 suitably circumferentially enclosed by a suitable air filtering means such as polyurethane foam material as shown, such as filter 40 is received within a counterbore at the outer end of the pocket 38 and held in position by suitable means such as suitable supports 31 and roll pins 42. The forward bore portion 35 threadedly carries a set screw 44 having its inner end engageable with the outer surface of tube 36 to releasably rigidly locate the tube 36 with respect thereto with screw 44. An integral boss 46 is provided at the upper portion of the assembly 32 which extends outwardly therefrom towards the inner end of tube 18 and in which is provided an inverted L-shaped air passageway 48 communicating with the bottom of the upper portion of the pocket 38. Boss 46 has a vertically extending rear wall 50 with a lower free edge 52 formed to closely receive the outer surface of the vent tube 24 at its outer end. As shown, vent tube 24 extends slightly inwardly of passageway 48; however, it is locatable flush with the inner surfac of the rear wall 50.

Inner tube 36 comprises an elongated tubular member having an outer diameter to be closely received within the bore portion 35 and is of a length to extend from outwardly adjacent the filter assembly 32 to adjacent the end cap 24 beyond the inner ends of openings 28. Inner tube 36 is axially slidably within the outer tube 18, and suitable indices 56 are provided on the outer surface of tube 36 to indicate its relative position with respect to the outer tube 18. The outer end of tube 36 is provided with a suitable threaded nipple 58 to which a coupling 60, as is known, is threadedly removably secured. A suitable material transporting line 62 extends from a coupling 60 which is connected to a suitable source of vacuum (not shown) to obtain the transporting of material as hereafter described.

In operation, assuming a hopper car to be unloaded having a standard nozzle 4 extending therefrom, the cover is removed from the nozzle 4 and the adaptor 2 slipped over the outer end of the nozzle 4 with the free end of the nozzle abutting or substantially abutting the shoulder at the bottom of the bore 10. Adaptor 2 is then secured to nozzle 4 by tightening the set screw 12. The free end of the outer tube 18 is then aligned with the bore 16 and is slidably inserted therethrough through bore 16, and through nozzle 4 into the material (not shown) in the hopper to a desired length of penetration with the outer end of the outer tube 18 being located outwardly of the adaptor 2. When the outer tube 18 is properly located it is secured in position relative to the nozzle 4 and the hopper by tightening of the set screw 20. In order to obtain proper positioning of the outer tube 18 within a hopper the portion of the bore 16 which receives the vent tube 24 is located at the upper portion of the bore 16 to locate the tube 24 such that the lower edges of openings 28 are spaced the same distance above the lowermost edge of the body 22.

With the outer tube 18 so located a filter assembly 32 is then inserted over the free end thereof with the opening in the free edge 52 of boss 46 encompassing the outer end of the vent tube 24.

Thereafter the free end of the inner tube 36 is aligned with the bore portion 35 and inserted through the bore portion 35 into and through the outer tube 18 to obtain the proper relative position of the inner tube 36 with respect to the outer tube 18 the inner end of the inner tube 36 is initially located close to the end cap 23, and the coupling 60 with line 62 attached and a suitable vacuum (usually a steady vacuum of between 8 and 20 inches of mercury) applied. Upon applying a vacuum to the interior of the inner tube 36 atmosphere air will flow from outside the hopper through the filter 40 into the pocket 38 through passageway 48 into the outer open end of the vent tube 24, along the vent tube 24, through the slot 30, into the interior of the outer tube 18, then through th interior of the inner tube 36 and through the line 62. Thereafter the tube 36 is moved axially outwardly of the outer tube 18 and as its inner end passes outwardly between the openings 28 material within the hopper will be drawn by the air stream fiow into the inner tube 36 and entrained therein and flow through the lin 62 to a location as desired. The axial length of openings 28 between the inner end of the inner tube 36 and the end of each opening 28 adjacent the end cap 23 define material entrance areas. As such material entrance areas increase th material flow from the hopper increases; however, as the inner tube 36 is moved towards maximum material entrance areas, surging in the material flow will occur. The area of the entrance areas at which such surging occurs will vary dependent upon the characteristics and condition of the material being conveyed; however, such surging is quickly noticeable during such transporting. Accordingly, after surging first occurs the inner tube 36 is slipped inwardly of the outer tube 18 until the surging stops and a steady material flow occurs. With the inner tube 36 and outer tube 18 located to obtain steady flow in such manner the inner tube 36 is anchored with respect to the outer tube 18 y Set SCffiW 1' Th; indices 51 are provided to permit duplication of the setting of the inner tube 36 when desired.

In view of the use of the above described structure the inner tube 36, outer tube 18, the housing for the filter assembly 32 and the adaptor 2 can be made from any suitable material, such as aluminum tubing and aluminum casting, which is easily positioned and will stand up in service. Further air tight joints can easily be provided with such structure by welding or brazing. Also various portions which engage each other may be provided with suitable gasket means to obtain better air seals. The set screws 12, 20 and 41 comprise releasable fasteners and can be of any accessible fastening means as desired. When vent line 24 is fabricated from aluminum tubing and the filter assembly 32 is an aluminum casting, the filter assembly 32 is welded to the outer tube 18 to provide an air tight joint between the outer end of the outer tube 18 within the bore 34. Desirably the outer end of the vent line 24 is welded to the edge 52 to provide an airtight joint.

Those skilled in the art readily appreciate that the steady flow established as indicated above is the most eflicient setting for transporting material from a power and material flow standpoint. In addition the above structure provides a pair of material entrance areas which are always of the same heighth the advantage of which are readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. In the event either material entrance area is blocked the resultant increase in velocity of air flow through the inner tube 36 will attempt to overcome such blockage or restriction while maintaining flow through the opposite unrestricted material entrance area.

Although the transporting device as described is particularly desired for railway car hoppers since it can be installed with either nozzle 4 at either side of a hopper car. As the design and location of a discharge opening or openings from hopper cars varies between various cars the outer tube 18 is of a length so that it will extend through the entire distance needed to discharge the known hopper car structures. In use the outer tube is adjustably positioned relative to the nozzle 4 to which the adaptor 2 is secured so that the openings 28 are located below a discharge area of a hopper. When a hopper car has more than one discharge opening the outer 18 is adjustably positioned, in turn, with each of such discharge openings. Consequently, the filter assembly 32 is located at variable distance from the adaptor 2 during use, or can abut the adaptor 2, if desired. Although only two laterally aligned openings 28 have been shown and described, the opening 28 can be axially overlapping and of different axial length if desired rather than laterally aligned uniform length openings. Further, if desired, axially spaced pairs of openings 28 can be used.

The device of this invention can also be modified by replacing the end cap 23 and the vent line 24 with a filtered air entry at the end of the outer tube 18 at which the end cap 23 is show-n. In such modification it is essential that such end of the outer tube 18 be open to the atmosphere. In the case of hopper cars such access to atmosphere air can be provided by removing the closure cap from the nozzle, similar to the nozzle 4 shown, on the other side of the hopper car and which opposite nozzle is in axially alignment therewith. With such modification; however, single side operation of the device is not obtainable. The use of a filter air entry at the end of the outer tube 18 is particularly desirable for use with material storage bins.

What is claimed is:

1. A material transporting device comprising, a pair of hollow telescoping tubular member with the inner one thereof being closely received in the outer one thereof and having an outer portion adapted to cooperate with means for producing a vacuum therein, said outer member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally overlapping axially extending openings therein which openings provide the only material entrance areas to the interior thereof, means for selectively locating said inner tubular member axially with respect to said openings, and means carried by the outer of said tubular member for permitting ambient air to enter the interior of said outer member from at least adjacent the end of said outer member towards which said inner member reciprocates.

2. A material transporting device as set forth in claim 1 in which said plurality of openings are axially aligned and opposed from each other.

3. A material transporting device as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said openings are of uniform lateral width throughout the length thereof.

4. A material transporting device as set forth in claim 1 in Which said last mentioned means includes an air line having the entrance portion thereof adjacent the other end of said outer member.

5. A material transporting device as set forth in claim 4 in which said last mentioned means includes a slot extending axially in said outer member and communicating only between said air line and the interior of said outer member.

6. A material transporting device as set forth in claim 5 in which means are carried by one of said tubes to locate said inner tube with respect to said outer tube in one relative position.

7. The method of transporting granular or pulverant material comprising, embedding a pair of hollow telescoping tubes within a quantity of such material with the outer of said tubes having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending openings therein which constitutes the only areas whereby such material can enter the interior of the outer tube, providing ambient air to the interim of said outer tube at least adjacent the end thereof towards which the inner tube approaches upon telescoping inward movement, applying a vacuum to the interim of said inner tube and locating said inner tube with respect to said openings such that surging flow of such material occurs through said inner tube, and relocating said inner tube with respect to said openings and towards said end of said outer tube such that steady flow of such material occurs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,303,810 12/1942 Anderson et al. 30252 3,031,233 4/ 1962 Pendleton 3025 8 3,136,584 6/ 1964 Whitlock 30252 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner. 

